Iteam-exqavating process of sinking wells



(No Model.)

J. A. WAGNER.

- STEAM EXGAVATING PROCESS OF SINKING WELLS, &c.

No. 342,274. V Patented May 18, 1886.

' John 1% Wagner Jul/5111702":

-tion by my-method. is an axial sec-- eted steam-conduit and of the inclo'sing wall rrnn Snares fa'rnfn'fr m JOHN A. WAGNER, or MIDDLETOWN, 01110.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,274, dated May 18, 1886. A Application filed September 10, 1885. Serial No. 176,754. (No model.)

means for sinking or excavating wells, shafts,

adits, and other like deep and narrow perforations in the ground or crust of the earth by the use of a steam-jet within a tube or pipe, one of whose ends rests for that purpose on the point of ground to be excavated. In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is an axial section of a well .in process of formation, to alarger scale, of a portion of my jack-.

tube. Fig. 3 is a partly sectional elevation of the foot of the wall-tube in position.

A represents a tube, which is preferably composed of cylindrical lengths or sections 1,

2,-&c., of wrought-iron. the lowest section,

1, having numerous perforations,a. Y

I,- II, 850., aresections of asmaller iron tube or pipe, B, which, having been connected at one end b'y'fiexible hose or pipe 0, with a .clay, fine gravel, and other fine, mobile,-and soluble matters in and about the line of excavation, and to expel said matters by .driving the same upward through the annular passage F between the pipe 3' and thetube A. V

For the double purpose of strengthening and of conserving the heat of the steam-pipe, each section is preferably inclos'ed in a sleeve or jacket, G, of slightly greater diameter. The steam within the generator is brought to a. pressure of one hundredpounds to the inch and upward, according to the depth and di-, ameterof the excavation and themore or less refractory character of the deposit. As the excavation progresses, additional lengths are completion by the sinking of the wall-tube to The work having reached its thedesired depth, the steam-conduit iswithdrawn and said tube is left in situ, to serve as the permanent lining wall of the excavation. The continual removal from the desired path of the wall-tube of portions of the obstructing .material operates with little or no mechanical assistance to sink said wall-tube to the permanent position by virtue of its own weight. A derrick, H, or other simpledevicc may be employed tohold the pipe to its proper level within the wall-tube and to permit its descent as the work progresses. The removal from the path of excavation of the finer, more mobile, and more soluble particlessuch as earth, clay, fine sand, and organic matters-permits more easy filtration and escape'o'f-thc water or other liquid desired to be reached. The

wall-tube having reached the desired depth, andthe steam-pipe having been withdrawn,

any suitable pump may, if necessary, be placed within the well.

I am aware of the practice of steaming oilwells, whichconsists indischarging a jet of steam thereinto for the purpose, of increasing the flow of oil; but this is not the equivalent of my invention.

Iclaim as new and of my invention- 1. The process of excavating or sinking wells, shafts, adits,or otherperforations in the earths crust, which consists iudirecting a jet' of steam against the earth to. be removed, and

gradually inserting into the excavation thus formed the pipe or tube through which the steam is conveyed, until. the desired depth is reached, substantially as set forth.

' 2. The process of excavating or sinking I wells, shafts, adits, or other perforations 'in the earths crust, which consists in directing a jet of steam against the earth tobe removed, gradually inserting in the excavation thus formed the pipe or tube by which said steam is conveyed, and sinking in said excavation 

